DUNEDIN, Fla. -- After Pedro Alvarez got the Pirates off to a fast start with a home run off Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez, new shortstop Jung Ho Kang connected on his first homer in Pittsburgh's 8-7 win on Tuesday.

Alvarez's shot to left came with a pair of runners on in the first inning. Right fielder Gregory Polanco started the rally with a two-out single, and Starling Marte then reached base on a fielding error by Josh Donaldson.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays put the finishing touches on their preparation for the Grapefruit League season by holding an intrasquad game on Monday morning.

Team Gray defeated Team Blue, 1-0, in a matchup that featured a solo home run by prospect Mitch Nay. Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson barely missed a home run of his own with a shot off left-hander Mark Buehrle that easily cleared the fence but went foul by a foot or two.

Former All-Star will help Toronto's No. 7 prospect progress at third base

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays are planning to bring in Scott Rolen later this week to work with prized prospect Mitch Nay.

Rolen's arrival date hasn't been confirmed, but he's expected to arrive within the next few days. The former All-Star is set to work with Nay on his fielding at third base and possibly his hitting as well.

Blue Jays announce November fantasy camp

Six-day event to take place in Tampa with Toronto alumni Alomar, Barfield, others

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays are offering fans an opportunity to participate in a fantasy camp with some of their favorite alumni from Nov. 15-20.

Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar, Kelly Gruber, George Bell, Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield, Homer Bush, Duane Ward, Alex Gonzalez and other players to be named will be participating alongside fans during the six-day event.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Dalton Pompey entered Spring Training as the favorite to become the starting center fielder on Opening Day but fellow outfielder Kevin Pillar still has his eyes on the job.

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos recently admitted that Pompey has the inside track but stressed the club is still keeping an open mind. Pillar remains in the mix but with Michael Saunders expected to be out until mid-April there's also an opportunity in left.

Blue Jays sign Viciedo to Minor League deal

Outfielder had been released by White Sox in February

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons talks about the team signing outfielder Dayan Viciedo to a Minor League deal

By Gregor Chisholm
/
MLB.com |

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays officially signed free agent Dayan Viciedo to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Sunday morning.

Viciedo will earn $2.5 million if he makes the roster out of camp, but there have been no guarantees about his role within the organization. The contract doesn't include an opt-out clause, however there's an understanding that Viciedo will be moved if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders wants to make one thing clear: He was the one who decided the best course of action was to remove 60 percent of the meniscus from his left knee.

Saunders underwent surgery on Friday afternoon, and the fact that his meniscus was removed instead of repaired means he'll return in approximately five-to-six weeks. If the doctor had fixed the cartilage, Saunders would have been out until the All-Star break.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Despite everything two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana has been through over the years, he hasn't given up the dream of returning to Major League Baseball.

Santana has been forced to deal with a seemingly endless list of injuries and surgeries dating all the way back to 2010. There have been issues with his left shoulder, ankle, Achilles' and he hasn't even pitched in the big leagues since 2012. But there has never been any questioning his desire.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The fact that Michael Saunders is expected to return in April, instead of the All-Star break, hasn't changed the Blue Jays' plans for Danny Valencia.

The Blue Jays are expected to give Valencia some reps in left field during Spring Training. It's a position he has never played before in the Major Leagues, but the club would like to increase his versatility off the bench.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders underwent left knee surgery on Friday afternoon and he's expected to be out of action for approximately five to six weeks.

Saunders originally was expected to be out until the All-Star break but that was under the assumption that the cartilage could be repaired and not removed. Dr. Steven Mirabello performed the procedure and determined that 60 percent of the meniscus could not be fixed, and as a result it had to be taken out.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Jose Bautista gave a ringing endorsement to the additions Toronto made during the offseason on Friday afternoon. He suggested that the incoming players are "maybe an uptick or two more competitive than some guys who have been here in the past."

Bautista's comments came on the day the Blue Jays officially opened camp with their first full-squad workout. Grapefruit League games are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, and by the sounds of it, Bautista is expecting big things following the offseason additions of Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Blue Jays don't expect two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana to be ready for the start of the regular season. But he's going to have an opportunity to compete for a starting job in the not-so-distant future.

Toronto signed Santana to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Thursday night. He'll likely arrive in Dunedin late Friday, and will have to undergo a physical before officially joining camp at some point this weekend.

Blue Jays have the look of a postseason team

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons discusses Dioner Navarro's potential role in 2015 as well as Edwin Encarnacion's defensive versatility

By Hal Bodley
/
MLB.com |

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- At about 1:30 ET on Thursday afternoon Michael Saunders hobbled out of the Blue Jays' clubhouse, his crutches shiny new and the huge brace on his left leg just out of the box.

Saunders, obtained from the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 3 to play left field for the recast Blue Jays, tore the meniscus in his knee jogging after a fly ball in the outfield Wednesday and will be lost until the All-Star break in mid-July.

After missing '14, Dirks close to resuming baseball activities

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Blue Jays outfielder Andy Dirks is expected to resume baseball activities in approximately seven to 10 days as he continues to recover from a back injury that kept him out for the 2014 season.

Dirks underwent back surgery last March and also dealt with a hamstring injury that limited him to 14 rehab games. He signed a Minor League contract during the offseason and isn't taking part in big league camp.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- For the third time in as many years, R.A. Dickey has started Spring Training with a new face behind the plate. Unlike previous seasons, though, there's a sense that this pairing with Russell Martin will actually work.

J.P. Arencibia and Erik Kratz auditioned for the role in the past, but neither has the pedigree of Martin. Dickey threw to the Blue Jays catcher for the first time on Wednesday morning, and after the bullpen session was over, everybody came away saying all of the right things.

Acquired from Tigers, Blue Jays prospect thrust into 2B competition after playing OF

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Devon Travis is back at his natural position after last year's brief experiment in center field, but this time, it's with a brand-new team and completely different surroundings.

Travis was dealt from Detroit to the Blue Jays during the offseason for center fielder Anthony Gose. The move gave Travis a chance to return to his roots after previously being blocked at second because Ian Kinsler was under a long-term deal with the Tigers.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Maicer Izturis is back to full health after last year's knee surgery, and he now has his eyes on winning the Blue Jays' starting job at second base.

Izturis was limited to 11 games last season because of a torn ligament in his left knee. He appears to have since made a full recovery and will have the next six weeks to prove the knee is no longer a concern.

"Originally I thought Donaldson would play third base and Lawrie would play second," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday as Donaldson made his Spring Training debut in a Blue Jays uniform.

Anthopoulos expects Blue Jays will deal Navarro

Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro discusses why he requested a trade during the offseason and his potential role this season

By Jim Hawkins
/
Special to MLB.com |

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday he understands why catcher Dioner Navarro wants to be traded, and he actually expects that to happen. But the Blue Jays' general manager also made it clear he expects to "get good value back."

"[Navarro] wants to play every day. We understand that," Anthopoulos said, when he addressed the media outside the Blue Jays' clubhouse for the first time this spring. "And if an everyday job presents itself for him, we think we can get a deal done fast.

Jim Hawkins is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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MLB.com Columnist

Mike Bauman

Donaldson already proving great fit with Blue Jays

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Outlook: Donaldson, 3B, TOR 0:47

Josh Donaldson hit a career-high 29 home runs with 98 RBIs in 2014 and will join a dynamic lineup in a hitters' paradise in Toronto for 2015

By Mike Bauman
/
MLB.com |

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Toronto Blue Jays are extremely happy to have Josh Donaldson in their lineup. Donaldson, for his part, is also very happy to be with the Blue Jays.

On the topic of Donaldson being with Toronto, what we have is a virtual festival of happiness at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. With the significant additions of catcher Russell Martin and Donaldson at third base, the Jays have significantly raised their profile and increased their chances in the American League East. This has become Spring Training with glee attached.

Mike Bauman is a national columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Anthopoulos: Filling out Blue Jays rotation first a priority

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Outlook: Sanchez, RP, TOR 1:05

Aaron Sanchez was impressive after making his debut in the Blue Jays' bullpen and should continue good work there or in the team's rotation

By Jim Hawkins
/
Special to MLB.com |

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- General manager Alex Anthopoulos said on Tuesday that Aaron Sanchez, Marco Estrada and Daniel Norris could all be in the mix for both the Blue Jays' starting rotation and the bullpen this spring.

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Russell Martin wasn't behind the plate for R.A. Dickey's first bullpen session of the spring on Monday morning, but that is expected to change in the very near future.

Martin has been open about his desire to catch the knuckleballer, and he's about to get that opportunity. The only reason it didn't happen Monday was because Blue Jays manager John Gibbons thought it would be best to avoid that type of responsibility on Day 1.